Transporting device for food products

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a transporting device for transporting food products to be processed. The transporting device includes at least one advancing element for advancing carriers of food products for processing that are fixed to the advancing element along a route extending through a processing space and a guide for guiding the carriers along at least a part of the route. The device may also include a carrier having mesh arranged on its side that extends traversely in the direction of movement and having guide elements. The device may further include two transporting devices for transporting food products for processing and a collective transfer device for coupling the two transporting devices together.

The invention relates to a transporting device for transporting foodproducts to be subjected to a processing, comprising at least oneadvancing element for advancing carriers for the food products forprocessing fixed to the advancing element along a route extendingthrough a processing space.

Such transporting devices are generally known. The advancing elementherein provides not only the forward movement of the carriers but alsoguiding of the carriers. This entails an additional mechanical load onthe advancing element, for instance due to a bending moment, whereby itis more susceptible to wear. High demands are therefore made of theadvancing element, whereby the possible choices of material from whichthe advancing element is manufactured, the type of advancing element andthe dimensioning of the advancing element are limited. Such limitationsoften conflict with other requirements set for such devices, forinstance in respect of hygiene and corrosion resistance. The inventionnow has for its object to provide a solution to the above stateddrawbacks.

This object is achieved by such a transporting device which is providedwith guide means for guiding the carriers along at least a part of theroute.

As a result of these measures the advancing element will be less heavilyloaded, whereby it is possible to give the advancing element a lightform and to make use for instance of stainless steel and/orlubrication-free chains instead of steel and/or lubricated chains. Agreater structural freedom moreover results from the separation offunctions.

According to a first preferred embodiment the advancing element isendless and the route is closed. It will be apparent that herewith acontinuous movement can be realized with all the resulting advantages.

In some situations it is attractive to give the route a linear form. Theadvancing element is then adapted to transport the carriersalternatingly in opposing directions. This results therefore indiscontinuous use.

According to another preferred embodiment the guide means are adapted totake the weight of the carriers.

The forces exerted on the advancing element are hereby furtherdecreased.

According to yet another preferred embodiment the transport apparatuscomprises secondary guide means for only guiding the advancing element.

This avoids lifting of the advancing element or a less favorablepositioning of the carriers, in particular with co-operation between theguide means for the carriers, and the secondary guide means for theadvancing element.

According to yet another embodiment the carriers are mounted rotatablyon the advancing element. This provides the option of effecting regularchanges in the position of the carriers in order to prevent burningphenomena in food products.

This is preferably achieved by adapting the guide means to determine therotation position of each of the carriers subject to the position of thecarrier.

This provides the option of determining the rotation position of thecarriers subject to their position, thus enabling a constant processflow.

According to yet another preferred embodiment the route extends throughat least a second processing space and the first and second processingspaces are connected by a tunnel, the length of which is at least aslarge as the maximum distance between the carriers in the direction ofmovement. According to this preferred embodiment the dimension of thetunnel in a plane transversely of the direction of movement is less than1.5 times the dimension of the carriers, including possible productspresent on the carrier, in this direction.

This results in a good separation between the first and secondprocessing spaces. This is important when different substances are beingused in the first and second processing spaces and differing atmospheresprevail therein.

According to a structural embodiment the advancing element comprises atleast one spring belt.

The use of a spring belt results in an attractive embodiment in respectof food products, since a spring belt requires no lubricants.

According to another embodiment the advancing means comprise at leastone chain provided with hollow links, wherein each of the carriers isprovided with a protruding part extending into a hollow link.

These measures result in free rotation of the carriers relative to theadvancing means. The position of the carriers can herein be controlledindependently of the advancing means.

According to yet another structural embodiment the carriers eachcomprise wire mesh on their underside and their sides extendingtransversely of the direction of movement.

The use of wire mesh, which is understood to mean a structure which isfor a relatively greater part open whereby the carrier acquires theconfiguration of a basket, provides the option that the food product forprocessing present in the basket is easily approachable from as manysides as possible, for instance by liquids, vapours or gases, in theprocessing spaces. The good accessibility results in a shorter residencetime in the relevant spaces and thus in a higher production speed.Another advantage of the use of a basket is that, particularly in thecase of vulnerable food products, they are supported over a large partof their surface.

According to a preferred embodiment the sides extending parallel to thedirection of movement comprise at least substantially closed walls.

This leads to a sturdy construction of the carrier with good potentialfor fixing to the advancing element.

According to yet another preferred embodiment the carriers are providedon their sides with guide elements for guiding of the carrier into adetermined position by the guide supports. The guide elements can forinstance be formed by guide edges arranged on the outside of thecarriers.

As a consequence of this measure it is possible for the rotationposition of the carrier to be determined subject to its position alongthe route. This provides the option for instance of allowing the carrierto variously assume different rotation positions during processing sothat, depending thereon, different parts of the product present in thecarrier are exposed to the processing devices.

According to another preferred embodiment the guide supports aredisplaceable for changing the position of the carriers.

The positions of the carrier can herewith be optimized, depending forinstance on the process and/or the product.

The invention also relates to a carrier suitable for use in atransporting device as described above.

Use is preferably made for this purpose of a carrier comprising wiremesh arranged on its sides extending transversely of the direction ofmovement, herein the carrier is provided with guide elements. A guideedge represents a simple embodiment of such a guide element.

The use of wire mesh results in the forming of a basket with a highdegree of access. It is important herein that the wire mesh bemanufactured with a passage ratio greater than 65%.

The invention also relates to a carrier for food products, for instanceas according to claims 17-19, comprising wire mesh for supporting thefood products. In such carriers applied heretofore the accessibility ofthe product is limited by the contact surfaces existing between the wiremesh and the product. This can manifest itself in markings occurring onthe product at that position. Such marking phenomena are now limited bymaking use of woven wire mesh. This advantage is not limited to acarrier as according to any of the claims 17-19.

The wire mesh is preferably manufactured from a material with a thermalconduction coefficient of a maximum of 0.25 W K⁻¹ m⁻¹.

This latter embodiment is particularly important when the processingdevices subject the food product for processing, and thereby also thecarrier, to a temperature treatment. If this has to act for only a shorttime duration, it is possible that the basket will heat up quickly and,during the subsequent process taking place at a different temperature,the product is still exposed to the previous temperature, which willresult in a decrease in quality.

Plastic mesh, for instance polyester mesh, can usually be appliedadvantageously.

An attractive embodiment is obtained when the wire mesh is received incontainers on its edges extending transversely of the direction ofmovement. This results in an attractive construction because sharp edgesof the wire mesh are avoided and damage to the products is thusunlikely.

In preference the containers are releasably connected to the guideelements. This provides the option, in the case of possible defects suchas wear, of rapid replacement of the guide elements which, as aconsequence of their guide function, are susceptible to wear.

It will also be apparent that with the use of plastic walls in thecarrier an attractive and inexpensive embodiment can be obtained.

The invention further relates to a guide element suitable for use with acarrier as according to claim 24.

The invention also relates to a composite transporting apparatuscomprising at least two transporting devices for food products forprocessing, for instance as elucidated above, wherein the transportingdevices are coupled by a collective transfer device.

Such a situation is applicable for instance when the products must beexposed to an aggressive environment. The processing device in whichthis aggressive environment prevails is therefore provided with aseparate transporting device. Coupling of both transporting devicesavoids the whole transporting apparatus being subjected to theaggressive environment.

Such a transfer device is preferably formed by a route of bothtransporting devices which extends partly parallel, wherein the guidemeans in the parallel routes are adapted to determine the position ofthe carriers so that the content of the carrier of the firsttransporting device is moved to a carrier of the second transportingdevice.

It will also be apparent that the movements of both transporting devicesmust herein be synchronized.

The route of both transporting devices preferably extends such that thecontent of the carrier is moved from the first transporting device tothe second transporting device.

When the guide means are adapted to determine the rotation position ofthe carriers of the first transporting device and the secondtransporting device on the basis of the angle of arc, a gradual changeof angle is obtained so that the products can be displaced from the onecarrier to the other carrier without the danger of damage.

In some situations, for instance when an interposed processing devicewith an aggressive atmosphere is used, it is attractive that, inaddition to a first transfer device for transferring the food productsfrom the first transporting device to the second transporting device, asecond transfer device be used for transferring the food products fromthe second transporting device to the first transporting device.

This therefore results in almost complete isolation of the secondtransporting device which can be fitted for transport through theaggressive environment of the products for processing.

The invention further relates to a loading device for loading a foodproduct fed by supply means to the loading device into a carrier of atransporting device, for instance a carrier forming part of atransporting device as according to claims 1-15 or a carrier asaccording to claims 16-25, comprising transfer means for displacing thefood product from the supply means into the carrier.

Such a device is known from DE-A-44 10 391. This patent applicationdescribes a loading device wherein sausages from a sausage manufacturingmachine are fed to buffer baskets, from which the sausages drop intobaskets located thereunder through rotation of the buffer baskets ontheir longitudinal axis. This drop entails the risk of the food productbeing damaged. It is moreover not possible with this device to load thesausages selectively in carriers. The invention now has for its objectto obviate these drawbacks.

For this purpose the loading device is characterized in that thetransfer means comprise a slide element which is drivable by drive meansalong a closed route and the route comprises a part wherein a foodproduct fed by the supply means is displaced by the slide element intothe carrier. The use of a slide element provides the option of causingthe loading to be accompanied by a lower mechanical load on the foodproduct.

The possibility therefore also results of allowing the loading device tooperate selectively, for instance to allow passage of reject sausages orwhen two or more transporting devices are placed in parallel.

Use is preferably made of a loading device wherein the slide elementfollows a path located in a vertical plane as it follows the route.

This provides the option, if the food products are fed from a lateraldirection, of moving the slide element along above the products still tobe moved into the carrier after the products for processing have beenmoved by the slide element into the carrier, whereby a large loadingcapacity can be realized.

According to yet another embodiment the route comprises a substantiallyhorizontal part wherein the slide element shifts the food product. Asimple displacement of the food product is hereby obtained withoutexcessive forces being exerted thereon, so that the chance of damage isas small as possible.

This danger is further decreased by providing the slide element with ascoop element on its bottom edge.

The measure wherein the slide element is initially accelerated andsubsequently slowed during the substantially horizontal part of theroute also contributes to a small chance of damage.

According to yet another preferred embodiment the slide element isconnected to a driven support by means of a connection such that duringa part of the route the slide element substantially covers the containerof the transporting device.

This measure ensures that in the case of a product with a slightlyresilient structure, rebounding and bouncing of the product out of thecarrier is avoided.

This effect is improved, when the slide element comes to a standstilduring the covering.

The measure that the support is connected by means of a rod assembly toa crank drivable in rotation also results in an attractive, mechanicallysimple embodiment.

The loading device is preferably provided with a supply device which isformed by a conveyor belt extending transversely of the transportingdirection of the transporting device.

The invention also relates to a production device for producing foodproducts, comprising a production member with an at least partiallycurved configuration and transporting means which are formed forinstance by supply means as stated in any of the claims 32-40 whichconnect onto the production member. Such production devices areencountered for instance in sausage manufacture, wherein the sausagescoming from the production member are fragile and it is important thatthey come to lie on a conveyor belt in controlled manner aftermanufacture, wherein they are prevented from making a free-fall by whichthey could be damaged. For this purpose the production member accordingto the invention is characterized in that the transporting means are atleast partially curved together with the production member.

This is particularly the case when the production member is formed bythe crimper wheel of a sausage manufacturing apparatus.

Finally, the present invention relates to a sausage manufacturingapparatus comprising a transporting device, wherein the processingdevice is formed by a drying device.

The second processing device is then usually formed by a smoking device.

Preferably, the sausage manufacturing apparatus comprises a bendingdevice for bending the sausages.

This offers the possibility to make bended sausages, for instance withthe shape of a horse shoe.

To emphasize the flexibility of the production the bending device isprepared for selectively bending or not bending a passing sausage.

Preferably, the sausage bending device is preceded by a positioningdevice for positioning the sausages. This provides in the feature thatthe sausages are bended in the middle, so that the shape of the sausagesbecomes symmetric.

The invention also concerns a processing apparatus for subjectingproducts, for instance food product by the processing of a fluid, theapparatus comprising carriers movable along a path, a housing throughwhich the path extends itself and flowing means for making fluid flowthrough the path, in which the path of the carriers extends according toa zigzag through the housing, and in which the partial paths of the pathextends substantially horizontally.

With these features it becomes possible to enhance the effectiveness ofthe contact between fluid and product. It is indeed easier to make thefluids flow homogeneously in a vertical direction than in a horizontaldirection. The cross-like movement of the fluid like gas and product isthan used optimally, so that no unused paths of the fluid flow candevelop. Further, this features offers the possibility to use inparallel flow or in counter flow; the products use—besides thehorizontal zigzag movement—slowly upwards or downwards.

Preferably the apparatus comprises at least two housings, and thedirection of movements, perpendicular to the plain of the partial pathin adjacent housings extends in opposite directions.

This avoids extra vertical movements between the housings.

The described inventions can be applied during several processes of foodproducts, like drying, steam cooking, cooking, cooling, after drying.

Preferably, different process conditions prevail in the housings.

This enhances the flexibility of the apparatus.

Preferabely, separation means are provided between the housings.

This feature leads to a better process control. This is also valid whentwo different housings are used.

The present invention will be elucidated hereinbelow with reference tothe annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view in longitudinal section of a deviceaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a partly broken away perspective detail view along arrow IIin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a partly broken away perspective detail view along arrowIII in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a basket according to the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a view in longitudinal section of the sub-device indicatedwith V in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows a view similar to FIG. 5 of a variation of the partialapparatus depicted in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a positioning apparatus;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a bending apparatus; and

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a drying basket-positioningapparatus.

In FIG. 1 is shown a sausage preparing apparatus designated in itsentirety with 1. The sausage preparing apparatus comprises aco-extrusion device not shown in the drawing which is per se known. Sucha co-extrusion device produces a continuous string of sausage material,the interior of which is formed by the filling or the stuffing which isprovided by the co-extrusion device with a skin.

Using a so-called crimper, which will be discussed briefly below withreference to FIG. 2, this continuous string is divided into separatesausage units. These are fed onto a conveyor belt which is designated 2in FIG. 1 and of which the direction of movement extends transversely ofthat of the drawing.

The sausage units are subsequently moved to a transporting device 4using a transfer device 3. This transporting device 4 extends initiallythrough a first processing housing 5 and then through the upper part ofa second processing housing 6. The transporting device then passesthrough a part of a third processing housing 7 which is adapted toprocess the product in an aggressive environment. For this purpose thisprocessing housing is provided with a separate transporting device 8.The transporting device then passes through the lower half of the secondprocessing housing 7, under the third processing housing 7 and finallythrough a fourth processing housing 9.

The thus processed sausages are thereafter unloaded in an unloadingstation which is not further elucidated, whereafter the maintransporting device passes through a cleaning device 10 back to thetransfer device 3.

When such a device is used as device for preparing sausage, the secondprocessing housing 6 is formed for instance by a housing in which adifferent or the same temperature prevails, for instance due to thepresence of heating elements or by supplying heated gases to thishousing. A further drying of the sausages takes place here.

In the third processing housing 7 the sausages for processing aresubjected to a taste-improving environment; they are herein treated forinstance with smoke liquid. This liquid is generally quite aggressive,so that a separate space 11 is created for this purpose. In order toprevent contamination of the main transporting device use is made hereinof a second transporting device which extends only inside this thirdprocessing housing. The aggressiveness and contamination of space 11therefore affect only this second transporting device, so that the maintransporting device is protected.

The product is subsequently subjected to the lower half of the secondprocessing housing 6 in which the drying process is completed.

Finally, a further cooking or cooling process takes place in the fourthprocessing housing 9.

It will be apparent that this total apparatus can be modified inaccordance with the nature of the product for processing. The abovestated embodiment relates to the processing of sausages, for instancefrankfurters; it is however quite possible for such a processingapparatus to be used for the processing of other products, such as othertypes of sausage or other meat products such as hamburgers and the like.The invention is not however limited to applications in the meat sector;such an apparatus can also be used in for instance the preparation ofvegetable preserves.

FIG. 2 shows a sausage string from a co-extrusion mechanism which is notshown in the drawing. In the present embodiment this is supplied fromabove in vertical direction; it is equally possible for it to besupplied from another side in order to have available a larger circlesegment for processing by the so-called crimper wheel 13.

This crimper wheel 13 is provided on its periphery with crimpingelements 14 which engage on and clamp the sausage string and bindtogether the casing of the sausage string at the position of theclamping and then cut the thus formed sausages 15 free of each other.

Arranged under crimper wheel 13 is the transverse conveyor belt 2 whichextends under crimper wheel 13 to make contact with the protrusions 14thereof and with the separate sausages 15 to be formed therebetween. Thetransverse conveyor belt 2 is guided for this purpose not only along adriving roller 16 but also along two guide rollers 17. Use is furthermade of a guide strip 18. As a result the conveyor belt 2 is guidedclosely along the wheel. It is also possible to place conveyor belt 2 ashort distance from the wheel. What is essential is that as soon as theseparate sausages 15 are released they come to lie on conveyor belt 2without danger of damage and at the same mutual distance. If conveyorbelt 2 were to extend straight they would fall through a relativelygreat distance, whereby the fragile sausages could be damaged.

A part of transverse conveyor belt 2 further extends substantiallyhorizontally. As elucidated with reference to FIG. 1, the maintransporting device 4 connects onto this part of transverse conveyorbelt 2.

In order to switch the sausages 15, use is made of a transfer device 3which will be described hereinbelow. In the present embodiment thetransfer device 3 is suitable for transferring three sausages at a timeinto the main transporting direction. It will be apparent that, alsodepending on the length of the sausages, another variable may besuitable for transferring other numbers of sausages. More than one maintransporting device can moreover be connected to the transverse conveyorbelt depending on the production capacity of the devices leading to orfrom the transfer machine. The control of the transfer device is hereinsuch that it switches for instance only one of each three or twosausages to the main transporting device.

As shown in FIG. 2, the actual transfer device of claim 1 comprises aframe 19 to which is fixed a slide element 20. The underside of slideelement 20 is provided with an obliquely extending scope part 21. Thisscoop part 21 ensures not only a sliding but also a slightly scoopingaction of the transfer device, which is important so as not to damagethe fragile sausages.

In order to prevent that when sausages 15 are placed in the containersor baskets forming part of the main apparatus the sausages 15 bounce outof the relevant containers again as a result of elasticity, aresiliently arranged cover element 22 is arranged on slide element 20.

The frame 19, which is substantially rectangular, is provided on itsunderside with ears 23 which are each rotatably connected to a lever 24.Both levers 24 are connected to a support frame 26 for rotation on acommon shaft 25. For driving thereof the frame 19 is connected by meansof two rods 27, only one of which is shown in the drawing, to an elementwhich is driven in rotation, for instance a disc 28 which is drivable byan electric motor 29.

By driving disc 28 in rotation the frame will execute a movement suchthat slide element 20 performs a movement extending in a vertical planealong a closed route wherein, when electric motor 29 is drivencontinuously, slide element 20 is in continuous movement, albeit alwaysat a different speed. The movement is such that while passing through alower part the moving sausages 15 extending in substantially flatposition are pushed into the transporting element in substantiallyhorizontal direction, whereafter the slide element moves upward, thenmoves back over the new sausages meanwhile supplied via conveyor belt 2and moves downward again on the other side, whereafter this movement isrepeated.

It must certainly not be inferred however from the foregoing descriptionthat this is a rectangular movement; it is rather a movement of whichonly the lower part is substantially flat and wherein all otherdirectional components transpose gradually into each other.

The actual main transporting device is shown in more detail in FIG. 3.The main transporting device is formed essentially by an advancingelement in the form of a chain 31 and carriers 32 fixed to chain 31 andguide means which are formed by fixedly arranged guide means in the formof guide rails 33 and guide edges 34 arranged on carriers 32. Instead ofa chain 31 it is possible to apply other flexible advancing elements,for instance a spring belt. Chain 31 is provided with openings extendingat regular distances into which can be placed pins 35 mounted oncarriers 32. It is thus possible by means of the advancing element inthe form of chain 31 to advance carriers 32 by means of the pins.

The pins and the holes arranged in the chain are such that the carrierscan rotate on an axis extending transversely of the direction ofmovement. If no further measures are thus taken, the rotation positionof the carriers will be determined by the force of gravity. However, theguide means have taken over this function of determining the rotationposition of the carrier. The guide means are formed by the fixedlyarranged guide rails 33 and edges 34 arranged on the side surfaces 36 ofthe carriers. The rotation position of each of the carriers 32 can bedetermined by causing the edges to be guided by the guide rails 33.

It will be apparent that carriers 32 are not limited to the embodimentshown here; they make take other forms, in particular they can beprovided with other rise edges and the like for determining therewiththe position of the carriers. It is further noted that the guide meansnot only have the function of determining the rotation position of thecarriers but also to take over at least a part of the weight of thecarriers and the content thereof, so that the advancing element, in thiscase the chain, is not loaded with this weight. It will be apparent thatit is possible to apply other forms of guide means arranged on thecarriers, for instance pins or blocks.

Above the chain 31 often a strip has been provided to avoid climbing ofthe chain or of the carriers, for instance in the case of pollution ofthe rail 33.

The same effect can besides be obtained by providing a similar railabove the fitting plates 38.

It is finally noted that the transporting device 4 in FIG. 3 is shown tobe arranged in a housing, the walls of which are designated 37.

FIG. 4 shows a carrier in its entirety. Carrier 32 comprises two sidewalls 36 which are manufactured from metal, for instance stainlesssteel, and which are provided on their outside with fitting pieces 38which are formed by plates and which are connected by pins 39 to theactual side walls 36. Fitting plates 38 are provided with protrusions,thus forming recesses 34. In the present embodiment two recesses 34 ofeach side wall extend at an angle of about 90° relative to each other.It is however possible to apply other configurations of recesses, forinstance two recesses extending at a different angle or a larger numberof recesses.

The pins 35 are further fixed to the actual side walls 36. Both sidewalls 36 are mutually connected by containers 40 which are bent into aU-shape and which are likewise preferably manufactured from stainlesssteel. It is otherwise also possible to manufacture these from plastic.Both U-shaped containers 40 are connected by a basket 41 of wire mesh.Wire mesh 41 is preferably formed, as shown in the drawing, by wovenwire mesh. It is otherwise possible to make use of punched wire mesh.The wire mesh is preferably manufactured from material which does nothave a very high thermal conduction. Thus is prevented that when itremains for a long period in a space with a high temperature the wiremesh takes on this temperature and causes burning phenomena in theproduct situated in the basket. The basket shape has the furtheradvantage that the product is easily accessible from all sides forradiation acting on the product or gases exerting an effect on theproduct.

As already stated in the preamble, this effect is improved by occasionaltilting of the basket as a result of the action of the guide means.

Further, reference is made to FIG. 5. Shown in FIG. 5 is theconstruction of the third processing housing 7. It can be seen hereinthat the third processing housing 7 is connected by means of a tunnel 42to the second processing housing 6 shown in FIG. 1 but not in FIG. 5.

The first main transporting device 4 is guided via a first transferdevice 43 which is connected to the second transporting device 8. Thetransfer device provides transfer of the content of the baskets of maintransporting device 4 to the baskets of auxiliary transporting device 8.The transporting devices are otherwise both of substantially the sameconstruction, wherein it is pointed out that the auxiliary transportingdevice, because of the fact that it is exposed to a more aggressiveenvironment, is possibly manufactured from materials which betterwithstand this environment.

The main transporting device is subsequently guided along a secondtransfer device 44 which is adapted to transfer the content of therelevant carriers from the auxiliary transporting device to the maintransporting device.

The auxiliary transporting device 8 leads through a chamber 45 and isadapted to spray the content of the carriers with smoke liquid. A spraydevice 46 is arranged for this purpose. It is equally possible for thispurpose to make use of immersing devices or vapour supply devices.

In order to reach chamber 45 the auxiliary transporting device 8 movesthrough a tunnel 47, the width of which is slightly greater than thewidth of the carriers and the length of which as measured in thedirection of the transporting device is greater than the distancebetween the carriers. Discharge of the carriers out of chamber 45 by thetransporting device also takes place with a similar, sluice-likeconstruction 48.

As stated, the first transfer device 43 comprises a guide wheel 49 forguiding each of the carriers. This guide wheel here fulfils the functionof the fixedly arranged guide means. Due to the placing of the guidewheels 50 and 51 for guiding the chain of the auxiliary transportingdevice, the carriers or baskets forming part of the auxiliarytransporting device are pressed against the carriers of the maintransporting device, wherein by changing the angle of the combinationthe product present in the carriers of the main transporting device istransferred to the other container.

A similar, though reverse movement takes place at the second transferdevice 44. The actual guide wheel 52 is herein placed close to theauxiliary transporting device.

It is thus possible to apply a separate auxiliary transporting devicewhich is not exposed to the aggressive environment in chamber 45. It isof course possible to eliminate the effectiveness of this chamber bymoving to the left the assembly of the auxiliary transporting device inaccordance with an embodiment not shown in the drawing. This auxiliarytransporting device is replaced by a guide plate in order to prevent theproducts falling out of the carriers of the main transporting device.

FIG. 6 shows a variation of the smoke apparatus depicted in FIG. 5.Herein use is made of a plunging apparatus 55 beside of a sprayingapparatus 46. To avoid making the auxiliary transporting deviceunnecessary long, both transfer devices are located at about the samelevel.

As a consequence thereof, they are differently constructed than thetransfer devices in the preceding embodiment. In the first transferdevice 43 the carriers 32 of the main transport apparatus come only inco-operation with the carriers of the auxiliary transport apparatus 8,when they have been tilted over an angle of 180°. To avoid that thecontents of the carriers drop during the tilting a guide plate 56 hasbeen provided. At the end of the guide plate the contents of thecarriers drop into the carriers of the auxiliary transport device 8.Subsequently, the contents are sprayed with smoke liquid by the sprayingapparatus 46 and the contents are thereafter plunged in the smokeliquid. The apparatus comprises a number of blowers 57 blowing off extraadhering smoke liquid from the products.

In the second transfer apparatus 54 the contents of the carriers of theauxiliary transport apparatus is fed back to the carriers of the maintransport apparatus 4. It is noted that to maintain a synchronousmovement between both transport apparatuses, the speed of the auxiliarytransport apparatus should be smaller than that of the main transportapparatus with respect to the smaller radius.

Further, it is noted that the shape of the path of the auxiliarytransport apparatus is such, that it is also possible to connect thecarriers rigidly with the chain of the auxiliary transport apparatus.

In FIG. 7 a positioning apparatus has been depicted, which is used forarranging the products to be processed, like sausages on a definedposition in the carriers. For a number of processes to be executed tothe products it is of importance that the process is used for thecorrect part of the product, like the bending of a sausage to horse-shoeshape.

The positioning apparatus can be located between the processing housings6,9 in the configuration depicted in FIG. 1, which housings serve as adrying housing, respectively a steam cook housing, and the latter ispreferably integrated in the smoking apparatus arranged between thosehousings which is described with the help of the FIGS. 5 and 6. It isthe most simple, when the position apparatus acts on a substantiallyhorizontal part of the transport apparatus. The positioning apparatuscomprises essentially a frame 58, extending like a bridge over thetransporting device 4. In the frame 58 a carrier 59 has been providedwhich is adjustable in height along the frame. Four U-shaped holders 60have been provided to the carrier 59, within which a shaft 61 isjournalled rotatably. Within each of the holders 60 a hub 62 has beenprovided which comprises at its circumference a number radiallyextending brackets 63.

The shaft 61 is driven in rotation, so that the brackets 63 move alongwith the carriers 59. They have such a length, that they extend over apart of the path of the carriers until into the carriers. During thispart of the path the brackets execute a movement towards the center ofthe carriers by means of a curve control from the outer side of thecarriers, which is illustrated in three subsequent stages depicted fromunder to above in FIG. 7. During this movement, the subsequent productsare shifted to the middle of the transporting devices 4.

In FIG. 8 a bending apparatus for the bending of products, in particularof sausages, is depicted. Such a bending device is for instance arrangedbetween the positioning apparatus depicted in FIG. 7 and the subsequentdrying device. It is of importance that the sausages are in an easybendable condition, in particular the skin of the sausages.

Generally, the bending device comprises a drum 66, unto which a numberof bending units 67 has been arranged. It is, however, also possible tolocate the bending units on another kind of carrier. By means of atransfer device not depicted in the drawings the sausages or otherproducts are supplied to the bending units 67 located on the drum 66.

Each bending unit comprises two engaging elements 68, which have beenarranged on the drum by means of a crank-driving shaft mechanism. Bylocating the sausages in gripping elements extending in each othersprolongation, and by making subsequently both engaging elements rotate,the bending action is executed.

Herein the driving of the movable engaging element is dependent on theposition of the drum 66.

Of course the sausages to be bended are supplied to the substantiallyhorizontal part of the drum 66. During the further rotation of the drum66 it is avoided that the sausages drop too early from the bending unitsby means of a guide not shown, which is located at the outer side of andconcentric with the drum, and which preferably moves along with thedrum.

Below the drum the sausages are taken over by a next transporter. Hereinthe drum has been dimensioned such, that the sausages have been bent tothe correct shape.

During rotation of the drum the subsequent bending units 67 movesubsequently and not repeatingly in the direction of one end of the drumand in the direction of the other end of the drum, such that thesausages are located compactly in six rows on the next transporter,which can be provided of standing up rims extending in the direction oftransport. By such a compact transport efficient after-drying can beobtained.

Further, the drum comprises a transport unit 71 for each drum, which isused, when straight sausages should be produced. Herein the bendingunits are not acting. The choice between the bending units or thetransport units is determined by the synchronisation between thetransport apparatus and the rotation of the drum; by rotating the drumover a distance between the bending unit and the transport unit, it ispossible to make a choice.

In FIG. 9 an alignment apparatus for the carriers has been depicted,which has been generally designated with 77. This alignment apparatusserves to bring the carriers 32 in a defined rotation position. Thealignment apparatus can be inserted in the apparatus depicted in FIG. 1in any required position. The alignment apparatus comprises a lowerguide rail 72, in which an indent 73 has been provided. At the upperside the alignment apparatus comprises a weight 75 connected rotatablyto a shaft 74. Both the weight 75 and the lower guide rail 72 arelocated close to the guide edges 34 connected to the carriers 32. In thenormal situation, that is to say, when the carriers 32 are in theposition as depicted in FIG. 9, the transport of the chain 31 moves therelevant carrier and the guide edge 34 over the indent 73. By the forceextended by the weight the carrier tilts backwardly in a slight amount,so that there is no risk that the front guide edge 34 engages the indent73 leading to an unadvertent tilting of the carrier. When, however, oneof the carriers is transported in a front-to-back position, the weight75 will press the sharp edge of the guide edge 34 until the indent 73,so that this guide rim 34 is stopped at its lower side, and will executea rotation until the carrier is in its correct position.

It is, however, also possible that a carrier is supplied in a completeupsidedown position. For such a situation a guiding 76 has been providedengaging the side wall 36 of the carriers, which are supplied in thefully turned upsidedown position. In the present embodiment the sidewall 36 has the contour of the carrier. The guiding has been provided inthe path of the plate, in which the guiding exerts such a force to thiscounter plate, that the carrier tilts and comes in the correct or in theupsidedown position. When the carrier arives in the upsidedown position,it will turn again at the indent 73.

It will be apparent that the scope of protection of the presentinvention is limited only by the claims and not by the embodiment shownabove.

What is claimed is:
 1. Transporting device for transporting foodproducts to be subjected to a process, comprising: a. at least oneadvancing element located along a route extending through a firstprocessing station; b. at least one carrier for the food products fixedto the advancing element, wherein the carrier comprises mesh forsupporting the food products; and c. primary guide means for guiding thecarriers along at least a part of the route.
 2. Transporting device ofclaim 1, wherein the route and the advancing element each form a closedpath.
 3. Transporting device of claim 1, wherein the route is linear andthe advancing element is adapted to transport the carrier alternatinglyin opposing directions.
 4. Transporting device of claim 1, wherein theguide means are adapted to bear at least a part of the weight of thecarrier.
 5. Transporting device of claim 1, wherein the carrier ismounted rotatably on the advancing element.
 6. Transporting device ofclaim 5, wherein the primary guide means are adapted to determine therotation position of the carrier.
 7. Transporting device of claim 5,wherein the transporting device comprises an alignment apparatus formaking the carrier move towards a defined rotation position of thecarrier.
 8. Transporting device of claim 1, wherein the advancingelement comprises at least one spring belt.
 9. Transporting device ofclaim 5, wherein the advancing element comprises at least one chainprovided with hollow links and the carrier is provided with a protrusionextending into a hollow link.
 10. Transporting device of claim 1,wherein the carrier further comprises at least one substantially closedside wall.
 11. Transporting device for transporting food products to besubjected to a process, comprising: a. at least one advancing elementlocated along a route extending through a first processing station; b.at least one carrier for the food products fixed to the advancingelement; and c. primary guide means for guiding the carriers along atleast a part of the route, wherein the route extends through at least asecond processing station, the first and second processing stationsbeing connected by a tunnel, the length of the tunnel being at least aslong as the maximum distance between two carriers fixed to the advancingelement, and the width of the tunnel being less than 1.5 times the widthof the carriers.
 12. Transporting device for transporting food productsto be subjected to a process, comprising: a. at least one advancingelement located along a route extending through a first processingstation; b. at least one carrier for the food products fixed to theadvancing element; and c. primary guide means for guiding the carriersalong at least a part of the route, wherein the primary guide meanscomprises guide elements located on the carrier and guide supports,wherein the guide elements guide the carrier into a position determinedby the guide supports.
 13. Transporting device of claim 12, wherein theguide supports are displaceable for changing the position of thecarrier.
 14. Transporting device of claim 12, wherein the carriercomprises mesh for supporting the food products.
 15. Transporting deviceof claim 14, wherein the guide elements are arranged on the outside ofthe carrier.
 16. Transporting device of claim 12, wherein the mesh ismanufactured with a passage ratio greater than 65%.
 17. Transportingdevice of claim 12, wherein the mesh is woven.
 18. Transporting deviceof claim 1, wherein the mesh is manufactured from a material with athermal conduction coefficient of a maximum of 0.25 W K⁻¹ m⁻¹. 19.Transporting device of claim 1, wherein the mesh is plastic. 20.Transporting device of claim 14, wherein the carrier further comprisescontainers located along the top edges of the carrier for receiving themesh.
 21. Transporting device of claim 20, wherein the containers arereleasably connected to the guide elements.
 22. Transporting device ofclaim 12, wherein the guide elements comprise plastic.
 23. Compositetransporting apparatus comprising a first and a second transportingdevice for transporting food products for processing, wherein thetransporting devices are coupled by a transfer device and eachtransporting device comprises: a. at least one advancing element locatedalong a route extending through a first processing station; b. at leastone carrier for the food products fixed to the advancing element; and c.primary guide means for guiding the carriers along at least a part ofthe route; wherein the transfer device is located at a junction wherethe routes of the transporting devices converge along a parallel pathand the guide means position the carriers along the parallel path sothat the content of the carrier of the first transporting device istransferred to the carrier of the second transporting device. 24.Composite transporting apparatus of claim 23, wherein the parallel pathextends in an arc.
 25. Composite transporting apparatus comprising afirst and a second transporting device for transporting food productsfor processing, wherein the transporting devices are coupled by atransfer device and each transporting device comprises: a. at least oneadvancing element located along a route extending through a firstprocessing station; b. at least one carrier for the food products fixedto the advancing element; and c. primary guide means for guiding thecarriers along at least a part of the route; wherein a first transferdevice transfers the food products from the first transporting device tothe second transporting device, and a second transfer device transfersthe food products from the second transporting device to the firsttransporting device.